Lester Aldridge takes partner from Pardoes

South Coast firm Lester Aldridge is continuing its expansion with the hire of Pardoes' head of commercial.

Rosemary Parr, who originally trained with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, became a partner at Taunton-based Pardoes in May 1998.

Her arrival at the Bournemouth office of Lester Aldridge boosts the firm's pure corporate capability to five partners. The team is led by David Ashplant.

Parr says: "I wanted to work for a bigger organisation, doing bigger, more heavyweight corporate transaction work in a more dynamic practice.

"I'm hoping to expand the regional opportunities for the firm and to build on the firm's existing contacts. Lester Aldridge is located in a bigger conurbation, with more corporate activity. I'm looking forward to expanding what is already a dynamic firm and to developing further my commercial expertise."

Corporate partner Susan Gowan says: "Rosemary's joined to strengthen our existing team and to help us cope with the work we're generating."

Parr's experience at Pardoes includes advising on mergers, acquisitions and management buyouts, with a particular emphasis on owner-manager businesses.

Pardoes is known particularly for its private client work, while Lester Aldridge is best known for its commercial client work. Lester Aldridge's corporate client base includes Teachers Assurance Company, Poole Pottery, aerospace specialist Cobham Group and art material supplier Daler-Rowney.

Lester Aldridge launched an office in Bournemouth in February this year to house its new marine division, along with corporate recovery and planning teams (The Lawyer, 26 March). The new office includes marine specialists Jonathan Hadley-Piggin and Russell Kelly, who joined from Shoosmiths in October 2000. The firm also plans to build a corporate team at the new office.